Conditions at Ohama in May
May: Southeast Swell Arrives, But Monsoon Onshores Creep In
May brings a significant jump in ideal-swell direction: ESE at 15%, SE at 14%, and SSE at 11% plus E at 12% mean Ohama's SE-facing coast is receiving plenty of east-quadrant energy. However, average size slips to 4.5ft (1.3m) and the period remains 7.4s, so most waves are playful, fun-sized, and groveling rather than powerful. The wind pattern becomes the main issue: WSW at 21% and SW at 11% are the dominant flows, while true offshore W/WNW/NW/NNW only combines to about 15%. Ideal wind improves to 28%, much of it in the lighter morning hours, and water temperature climbs to 19.8°C. Expect small, rippable E/ESE/SE pulses in the morning, with glassier conditions before the southwest sea breeze kicks up. Air temps average 19.1°C and rain remains high at 6.5mm/day.
Average Spot conditions at Ohama in May
Swell history for May
Wind history for May
Swell quality
Analyze the groundswell consistency at Ohama during May. Based on historical data, there is a % probability of groundswell occurring this month. The chart below provides a detailed breakdown of the average wave height distribution, offering deep insights into the swell quality and surf potential you can expect at Ohama for your next trip in May.
Ground swell
Ground swell by size
Wind conditions
Evaluate the wind and swell alignment at Ohama for May. Our analysis shows that favorable offshore or side-shore winds coincide with surfable swell approximately % of the time. The accompanying graph illustrates the average size distribution of waves during these optimal wind windows at Ohama.